Appalachian Educators Connection
September 17-21, 2018
Stay safe as we are now in Florence's path:
Taken directly from email on September 15:
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
As we continue monitoring the Hurricane Florence storm track, confidence is increasing we will experience significant heavy rainfall, flooding and damaging winds.
Please know the forecast is still developing, but we are encouraging continued preparation.
Below please find important information:
The latest information on class cancellation and employee adverse weather status is at AppStateAlert.com.
Readiness continues:
In accordance with established emergency readiness plans, the university continues to prepare:
- Buildings have been made ready: roof drains cleared, sandbags and gravel are on hand and in place.
- Flood maintenance/repair supplies checked.
- Food and water supplies are stocked.
- Teams are in place to stay on campus and on call during storm.
- Storm drains are clear of obstructions, temporary flood barriers are in place.
- We are coordinating with local and state partners should we need to implement emergency response plans.
Housing and dining for students:
Residence halls and dining facilities will remain open. Residence halls are being carefully monitored and dining facilities have stocked up on extra food and water.
Additionally, the university has set up a temporary shelter for off-campus students, faculty and staff in need of safe shelter. The Quinn Center on 303 Stadium Drive will open at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15.
What you should do:
PREPARE AND PLAN:
- Discuss with your family and significant other: if you had to evacuate from your home, where would you go and how would you get there?
- Make sure you have more than one way to communicate.
- Charge your phones and essential electronics.
- Fill up water bottles from your sink – you don’t have to buy bottled water.
- Consider where you have parked your car. On campus, some lots are prone to flooding.
- Stay calm, and have a plan — it’s always good to have a readiness kit.
BE SAFE:
- Our biggest concern is rain. Heavy rainfall can bring with it the potential for landslides and flooding.
- Unless absolutely necessary, don’t drive in severe weather.
- NEVER drive through flooded streets or around barricades — they are there to protect people from danger.
- Fast-moving water, even if it is pretty shallow, is dangerous. It takes only 6 inches of fast-moving water to knock over an adult. 12 inches of rushing water can carry away a small car, and 2 feet can carry away most vehicles.
- Tornadoes aren’t common in this area, but there is a small chance we might see some. Be sure you know how you would get alerts at night.
- Resist the urge to throw large objects into storm drains and fast-moving water. This causes flooding hazards and is unsafe for maintenance workers who are trying to keep drains clear of obstructions.
STAY INFORMED:
- Stay alert for messages that will be sent to you via your appstate email.
- Register for text alerts at http://appstatealert.com/
- Messages related to class closings and cancellations are emailed, posted to appstatealert.com, distributed to local media and posted to university Facebook and Twitter accounts.
- Use reliable sources — Monitor AppStateAlert.com and appstate email addresses for important university updates. Watauga County Emergency Management and Boone Police have official social media accounts — be sure you know where your information is coming from.
- Visit ReadyNC.org and/or download the ReadyNC mobile app for helpful tips and safety information.
- Visit National Weather Service or National Hurricane Center websites for weather forecast and safety information.
Parking:
During the time that classes are cancelled, gates to restricted parking areas are lifted and students, faculty, staff and the public can park in those lots. Always be mindful of signage. Some lots are prone to flooding.
Will the AppalCart run?
Monitor www.appalcart.com for AppalCART schedules, delays or cancellations. You can also download the Nextbus App.
What if my power goes out?
Be sure to prepare in case this happens. Make sure your phone is charged and you have batteries on hand in case you need them.
New River Light & Power is making preparations to help and/or receive assistance from other utilities across the state. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates. Customers with questions related to NRLP electric service, or who need to report an outage, should call at 828-264-3671.
What events are being cancelled?
Many events scheduled to take place on campus are being canceled or re-scheduled, but Student Affairs is making sure there are things to do. To avoid confusion, be sure to check with the presenter of any event you are planning to attend. Many of us are monitoring the weather and the ability for guest presenters to travel to our campus. Event presenters should work through their managers and advisers to determine whether or not to cancel or postpone events. Please note: If you are canceling an event, you should use the same method to announce a cancellation that you did to publicize the event. Pay particular attention to places on the web you have placed notifications. Wherever your event is listed on the web, you should be sure to post any updates to that same location.
A note on terminology:
On the news and in weather announcements, you may notice the National Weather Service will now be using the terms “Tropical Storm Watch” or “Tropical Storm Warning” rather than “high wind warnings” or “wind advisories” to describe wind speeds. As in the past, these announcements will include wind speed information so you are fully informed.
Links for further information:
http://appstatealert.com/
https://readync.org/
https://www.weather.gov/akq/Florence
We will provide regular updates as we learn more about the storm track and what this will mean for our campus, our off-campus students, faculty and staff, and the surrounding area.
Thank you,
Jason Marshburn
Director, Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608
Office: (828) 262-8081
Cell: (828) 406-7610
Email: marshburnjs@appstate.edu
Important Events This Week:
- Classes Cancelled-all AppEd events cancelled (including PD seminar on Tuesday)
Wednesday, September 19
- AppEd Committee Chair Meeting 5:30pm RCOE #124A/B
- AppEd Homecoming LipSync Preliminaries 6:00-8:00pm Schaefer Center
- Graduation Planning-Transfer/Early College Students 6:00pm RCOE #124?
Thursday, September 20
- Homecoming Kazoo Band Practice 5:00-6:00pm RCOE #232
- Year of Wellness Star Trek Discovery 6:00-7:30 James Center
Friday, September 21
- Praxis Core Math Workshop 3:00-4:00pm RCOE #124
Remember to mark you calendars for the exciting seminar next Tuesday, September 25, 2018 for the NC Teacher of the Year and other teacher leaders from across the state. It starts at 5:30pm in RCOE #124!
Homecoming Updates from the Homecoming Committee:
Hey guys! We are going to have dress rehearsal Tuesday, September 18th from 5-7pm and location is to be determined! For anyone in lip sync, please bring costumes and if you have any questions, contact one of us on the committee! Stay safe everyone!
Homecoming google drive folder: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vF8q9hZtmQjhsH8baE6hDlqv0HJny9Eo
Sign up for the blood drive here:
- Regular donation: https://act.appstate.edu/signup/sheet_id/15
- Double Red: https://act.appstate.edu/signup/sheet_id/16
- Volunteer: https://act.appstate.edu/signup/sheet_id/17
Resource of the Week: Appstate M.S. Shook Student Health Services
The Mary S. Shook Student Health Services exists to meet the health needs of the students of Appalachian State University. All registered full-time students who are currently attending class are eligible to receive care at the Health Service. Students taking less than nine hours are eligible after paying the Student Health fee.
Job Opportunity
My name is Hayley Bayne, and I am a recent graduate of the Child Development program. I currently work as an Itinerant After School Coordinator for the Watauga County School After School Program. I am contacting you because you are listed as an administrator of a club dealing with education, teaching, and/or children.
If possible, could you share this information at your next organization meeting or send an email to all of your members? I am available to answer any questions! Thanks!
Watauga County Schools is hiring group leaders. This is the perfect job for anyone wanting to work with children or the public in any capacity. The pay is $9.50 per hour, and the hours are about 2:00-6:00 everyday. If you have time conflicts after 4:00, we can generally work them out. Here is a link to see more information and to apply:
https://nc.teachermatch.org/applyteacherjob.do?jobId=426669
If you are interested, but you are only available a few days out of the week, you can apply as a substitute. The pay is $10.50 for this, and the hours are the same on the dates you are able to work. Substitutes have complete flexibility and are not required to work if you make plans in advance. Here is the link for more information. (It is the same as the substitute for classrooms, but note that you want after school)
https://nc.teachermatch.org/applyteacherjob.do?jobId=239599
Avery County:
Lee Cope, Director of University Tutoring Services shared a tutoring job description for an after-school program Avery County. I've attached it here. The student must be work-study eligible and have their own transportation to/from Avery County. They MUST apply for the position via Handshake (https://careers.appstate.edu/handshake).
NC Public School Forum Friday Report, click HERE to learn more about important education topics
- This Week on Education Matters: Is NC Providing Access to Quality Public Education?
- Advocate: State Teacher Pay Still Below Average
- Color of Education: An Evening with Nikole Hannah-Jones
- Virtual Charter Schools in NC Are Still Low Performing. Are They Improving, or Failing?
- Mark Johnson - NC School Board Rift Directly Affects Students, Chair Says
- Possible State Takeover of Fairview Elementary Draws Comments at School Board Meeting
- This Raleigh School Unfairly Got an F. It Merits an A for Effort.
- Save the Children Rushes in to Bring NC Children Respite from Hurricane Florence
- NC School Districts Prepare, Brace for Hurricane Florence
- House Select Committee on School Safety Meets in Boone
- NC Governor Roy Cooper Proclaims September 2018 Attendance Awareness Month
- 'I Work 3 Jobs and Donate Blood Plasma to Pay the Bills.' This Is What It's Like to Be a Teacher in America
- Does Teacher Diversity Matter in Student Learning?
- The Keys to Student Success Include Starting Early and Following Through
- Women in Educational Leadership Symposium
- Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards for Science and Mathematics Teachers
James Center for Student Success and Advising
Email: cavinessts@appstate.edu
Website: jamescenter.appstate.edu
Location: 151 College Street Boone, RCOE #105
Phone: (828) 262-6095
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/appstatejamescenter